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(More customer reviews)`Up and Running with AutoCAD 2011 - 2D and 3D Drawing and Modeling' is a hands-on, strongly directed text for classroom or self-study. They used to call them `programmed textbooks' when I was in school: logically-defined levels that build and refine skills gradually, clear chapter objectives, plenty of summary and review points along with ample, focused exercises that reinforce you've just read.
Throughout the book, Gindis stresses the practical with a point of view that might be called the `95/5 Rule' as in, `95% percent of your day-to-day use of AutoCAD will involve 5% of its features.' His point is that identifying and mastering that 5% will benefit you far more than the wide-and-shallow approach of other books that can leave you a jack-of-all-features and master of none.
This should not imply any lack of breadth or depth: At 650+ pages, this is no `AutoCad in 24 Hours, a Weekend, a Whole Summer or whatever', kind of high-level tutorial. It's the kind of book you'll keep at arm's length long after you've worked through it for the first time.
Gindis assumes you know nothing at all about AutoCAD but are comfortable working in Windows (i.e. launching programs, menus, buttons, dropdowns, mouse clicking, etc.). A background in manual drafting is a plus but definitely not required.
(For the record, I'm a drafting dinosaur who took `technical drawing' in high school where we did elevations and mechanical components in pencil with a drawing board and T-square. Later I used a mid-90's version of AutoCAD for a short time but remember little of it, so I approached this book as a beginner.)
I found the first two chapters, on fundamentals - some 65 pages - to be very detailed and an easy to follow primer on creating and manipulating the basic 2D components of most drawings: lines, circles, arcs, and rectangles.
Gindis first shows you how to invoke each of these `tools' using a variety of methods AutoCAD offers (i.e. typing a text command, selecting from a menu, dropdown, toolbar, or ribbon, pressing shortcut keys, etc.).
For a brief moment I was concerned this might be another of those `guided tour of the help file' books that insist on covering every arcane detail of every feature - but thankfully this isn't the case.
It quickly becomes obvious that Landis clearly understands the learning process and is determined to have you avoid, as much as possible, being distracted from the main goal - CAD drawing and design - just to accommodate the layout of the software or its features. It's a subtle but important point I wish more software book authors appreciated.
Upfront, Gindis encourages you to choose whatever selection methods you find most natural. He also wisely asks you to put aside concerns about drawing accuracy (for the time-being) and just get comfortable creating and modifying these basic objects, testing your skill by emulating simple example drawings.
As you acquire each new tool the drawings in that chapter incorporate it as well. You early on develop a sense of accomplishment that encourages you to practice and build on what you can do easily. It's a satisfying, low-key approach to learning what can be a potentially overwhelming application.
There's a tremendous amount of material on dimensioning presented in separate basic and advanced chapters. Aside from layers and OSNAP handles, this was for me the most software-centric part of the book, which is probably unavoidable due to the myriad ways of presenting measurements on drawings. (Still, I enjoyed it far more then I ever did penciling in arrow heads and drawing numerals.)
By the time I reached the chapters on 3D modeling, I felt at home with the essentials and what I feared would be a huge conceptual leap turned out instead to be a smooth transition. AutoCAD's 3D modeling capabilities might not be geared towards the high-end graphics market the way Adobe CS is (in my opinion), but there's plenty to be done with textures and color to enhance interior designs or whatever you cook up.
Aside from drawing skills, the book covers essential tasks such as printing, file management, importing and exporting files.
(I'd encourage interested readers to check out the entire Table of Contents in the `Look Inside' on Amazon's listing.)
Gindis' mentions cutting his teeth on AutoCAD in an architectural setting. The book deals primarily with architectural (exterior and interior) design and mechanical engineering, but the `Spotlight On' mini-chapters illustrate other uses of AutoCAD such as electrical engineering and, Landis' own specialty, civil engineering.
Regardless, the author's goal is to provide you with the skill set to be productive with AutoCAD in whatever area you're working in, plus the knowledge to efficiently seek out and incorporate those less often used features when the need arises.
No CD or DVD comes with the book nor is there any website to download examples from. I think this is a good thing because, instead of being awed and intimidated by some pro's work, you can concentrate on building your own skills. The book itself is profusely illustrated, but done in such a way to encourage you rather than to show off the author's ability.
I do have a couple of minor criticisms of the book:
The combination of a large-sized paperback and light glossy stock makes the book ungainly to handle if you don't have a lot of room at your computer desk. I imagine cost is an issue in deciding not to go with a hardcover but I find it awkward to hold such a heavy soft cover in one hand while turning pages with the other. (If I were back in school reading on the train I'd probably rig up a stiff book cover.)
I also noticed some very minor differences between my AutoCad 2011 ribbon and some of the ribbon figures in the book (for example, the appearance of the Utilities and Clipboard sections). I can't tell whether these were taken from version 2010 or a 2011 beta. The software geek in me tends to notice these things but I doubt it will impact readers.
I think Gindis has done a real service for beginning (and, I suspect, some seasoned) AutoCAD users by focusing on the essentials in a deep yet effective and enjoyable way. By the end of 'Up and Running With AutoCAD 2011' I found myself wishing he had written similar books for some of the other `feature-rich' applications I'm still struggling to make practical use of.
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Gindis introduces AutoCAD with step by step instructions, stripping away complexities tobegin working in AutoCAD immediately. All concepts are explained first in theory, and then shown in practice, helping the reader understand what it is they are doing and why, before they do it.
Divided into three parts, the book covers beginning through advanced AutoCAD, including 3D features.
Also included is an extensive Appendix for each part, detailing additional useful CAD-related information not often found in other text books
The book contains supporting graphics (screen shots) and a summary with a self-test section at the end of each chapter. Also included are drawing examples and exercises, and tworunning "projects" that the student works on as he/she progresses through the chapters .
1) Strips away complexities, both real and perceived and reduces AutoCAD to easy-to-understand basic concepts.
2) Teaches only what is essential to operating AutoCAD first, thereby immediately building student confidence.
3) All basic commands are documented step-by-step, meaning that what the student needs to type in and how AutoCAD responds is all spelled out in discrete and clear steps with screen shots added as needed.
4) Using the author's extensive multi-industry knowledge of what is important and widely used in practice versus what is not, the material is presented by immediately immersing the student in practical, critically essential knowledge, with no padding of text or filler material.
5) All concepts are explained first in theory, and only then is AutoCAD introduced and the actual "button pushing" discussed. This is one of the key concepts in having students understand exactly what it is they are doing and why, before they do it.
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